February 9, 2022 11:00am
The provincial and federal governments are committing more funding to expand local broadband services.
In Perth County, work is underway to expand and provide high-speed internet service to more families and businesses in rural areas. The release from the province states that the governments of Canada and Ontario are each committing $727,000 to “support construction of three new infrastructure networks that will connect more than 400 homes, farms and businesses in the communities of Mennonite Corner, Ratzburg, Hampstead, Lisbon, Slabtown, Bornholm, Willow Grove, and eastern Listowel, with access to high-speed internet by August this year.”
The release also states that over 255 million dollars has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector, to bring high-speed internet to more than 58,000 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through the SWIFT (Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology) program.
Additionally, in Wellington County, a new $976,000 infrastructure network in the community of Eden Mills, is now providing 350 homes, farms and businesses with access to high-speed internet service. The fibre-optic service expansion was supported by the governments of Canada and Ontario each committing up to $267,000.
“I have always advocated for better service to rural Ontario. That’s why I am very pleased to announce that broadband will be extended to more rural and small communities here in Perth-Wellington,” says Randy Pettapiece, Member of Provincial Parliament for Perth-Wellington, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Hundreds of families and businesses will benefit from these expansion projects. That’s why I am pleased that our government is helping to build critical infrastructure needed to support communities in Perth and Wellington counties.”
“In partnership with the governments of Ontario and Canada, SWIFT is committed to expanding broadband infrastructure across Southwestern Ontario,” adds Gary McNamara, SWIFT Board Chair. “Through the SWIFT program we are providing many more homes and businesses with access to reliable high-speed internet. With the completion of the new fibre-optic network in Wellington County and construction of broadband infrastructure now underway in Perth County, we are pleased to see new high-speed connections being made across our region as the program continues to make strong and steady progress throughout Southwestern Ontario.”
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